By Christine Cheng, R.Ph.
Q: I suffer from anxiety and my doctor has prescribed lorazepam for me. I’m wondering if there is anything else I can try before I fill my prescription?
A: Lorazepam is a prescription medication that can provide much needed relief for those with pathologic anxiety that interferes with daily life. If you are interested in natural alternatives to try, there are many! The first one to bear the Health Canada approved indication for relieving anxiety is aptly named “Anxiety” and was developed by Veeva™, a Canadian company. “Anxiety” contains ashwagandha, American ginseng, holy basil, passionflower and l-theanine. At just 2 capsules a day, these ingredients help to relieve anxiety, nervousness, improve relaxation, promote mental focus and strengthen resistance to stress. More importantly, this can be used safely for prolonged periods of time and other than possibly feeling “too” relaxed, there are virtually no side effects to be expected.